Social Media & Mental Health: Are They Related?

06/12/201516/12/2015 by Voice of London

In a generation where phones are acceptable at the dinner table, and Facebook is a vice for meaningful conversation; the affects of social media are just a part of everyday life. But is the world plummeting into a hole of mental health issues?
Words: Shannon Cowley, Subeditor: Eireann Beardon

Watching Back to the Future and seeing 2015 bring us hover boards, flying cars and 3D cinemas was kind of exciting, if not unbelievable – but the reality is far from Marty McFly and Doc’s expectations. If they came to 2015 now, they’d be very disappointed.

What better way to start your day than watching everyone on the tube scrolling through their Twitter feed, chatting to their mates on Facebook, or examining Kim Kardashian’s new Instagram post. This lack of currency could have a negative affect on the mental health of young people, and looking at statistics ranging from 2009 to 2015, it’s kind of difficult to ignore.

Source: Shannon Cowley

Speaking to psychologist Professor Cary Cooper, VOL Health tries to understand whether social media is contributing to mental health issues among people in the UK.

“Social media takes people away from people. It enables them to maintain friendships from a distance, but if you are using it as a substitute for conversation when you’re both in London then there is potential adverse.” said Cary, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.

“Some people can become very addicted to it; and their addiction is like any addiction. Having to be on it all the time means you don’t engage with normal situations because you’re on social media.”